Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Athena, Trevon, Riley, Harrison, and Stryker were all gathered in the den, along with Briggs.
Unlike most of the others who made use of the furniture, Briggs stood, not wanting to transfer any paint from his clothes to the posh leather seating.
Harrison was standing, too, and had taken point on the informal meeting after Riley had explained her situation in more detail.
“So, y’all heard what she said,” Harrison started. “The situation isn’t good. Rita Gregory has a reputation for being one of the most ruthless agents in Hollywood. She used to rep some pretty big names, but a financial scandal stole some of her momentum.”
“I didn’t know about that!” Riley said.
Standing behind her, Briggs put his hands on Riley’s shoulders. He could feel her relax. Looking up at him, she smiled, before returning her attention back to Harrison.
“It all went down before you got to town. Even before I got here. But I heard rumors. After what you told me this morning, I made some calls and confirmed that it was her.”
“She sounds like a real peach,” Athena said.
“Uh-huh,” Harrison replied. “Apparently, she’d conned a couple of aging actors into signing with her. The contract was shady and basically it gave her most of their estates when they passed away.”
Trevon shook his head. “I didn’t need anything else to make me dislike this woman. But there you went and gave me something.”
Harrison looked apologetic as he nodded.
“I’m afraid it gets worse for Riley.” Looking at the actress, he explained, “I made some other calls and was able to get a copy of your contract that’s on file.
She’s got you locked up tight. For example, did you know that when you die, she has estate rights? ”
“What?” Riley shot up so fast that Briggs had to jerk his hands away from her shoulders.
“That’s not fair! I never gave her those!”
“I’m not blaming you. But she worked that language into it. And you signed it,” Harrison said. “I’m sorry, Riley.”
With a groan, Riley sank back onto the couch and slumped forward, burying her face in her hands.
Sitting next to her, Athena draped an arm around her shoulders.
Briggs wished there was something he could do.
The fact that this awful person had so much power over Riley had his blood boiling.
A good part of him wanted to find her and read her the riot act.
But he knew flying off the handle wouldn’t accomplish anything and might actually make things worse for Riley.
The best thing he could do right now was keep a calm head and listen.
“I should have hired an attorney to review that,” Riley said. “I was just so desperate! And didn’t know anything about all this stuff. Instead of waiting until I had stuff figured out, I just grabbed the first agent who would sign me. I was so excited!”
Stryker leaned in from the leather chair he was sitting in. “Riley, it’s not your fault. Lots of these people prey on inexperienced folks who just want to make it in the business. Unfortunately, this is something that happens far too often.”
Riley nodded as she looked up. “I can’t fire her, though. She’ll release the picture.”
“Honey,” Athena asked, “what exactly is the picture of?”
Riley sank a little lower, and if Briggs would have bet anything she was blushing right then, even though he couldn’t see her face.
“Well, I was… sorta… in Little Space in my apartment. This was before I bought my house. And…” Riley groaned.
“Honey,” Briggs said, leaning closer to be near her ear as he spoke. In a soothing tone, he continued, “Think about where you’re at. None of us are going to judge.”
Riley seemed to perk up a little bit after a moment of reflection.
“Yeah. I know.” Her voice was stronger, too. “Okay, I was wearing a diaper and a cute little shirt that said PRINCESS.” She giggled. “I still love that shirt.”
“That’s it?” Harrison asked.
“Well, I was drinking some juice… you know… from a sippy cup.”
“I did that this morning,” Stryker said proudly.
Everyone laughed.
Briggs loved being around Littles. He wished everyone could have something so cute and harmless to do for self-care.
“Anyway, I’d given Rita a key to my apartment.
She’d insisted on it. This was after my DUI incident.
She said she needed to be able to get to me in case of an emergency.
So, I agreed. But she came in unannounced!
When she saw what I was doing, she snapped a pic.
” Riley’s shoulders slumped once again. “She’s been hanging it over me ever since. ”
“I’m sorry,” Briggs said. “That must be an awful feeling.”
“If that ever got out it would ruin my career!” Riley cried.
“So you can’t find another agent,” Trevon said, connecting the dots. “She’s got you locked up tight.”
“Tighter than you think,” Harrison said. “The threat of exposing the pic is just to keep her playing ball. Going along with that bratty image she wants to sell. The contract itself is ironclad. Again, she owns Riley’s likeness and image even if something happens to her.”
Briggs walked to the back window, looked out at the shimmering water of the crystal-blue pool, and turned over the situation in his mind.
He wasn’t a lawyer, obviously, but he could tell this was dire.
Speaking of lawyers, he thought…
“Can she sue?” He turned around and looked at Harrison.
“She could,” he said. “But I sent a copy of the contract to some attorney friends of ours in Mountainville. The town’s legal counsel, Penny and Chelsea.”
“Oh, they’re great!” Stryker said.
“They are,” Harrison agreed. “But after reviewing this they said it would be tied up in the courts for years, most likely. And even then, the outcome wouldn’t be guaranteed.”
Riley stood. “I don’t have that kind of money. A protracted legal battle would be so expensive.”
“Damnit!” Trevon growled. “I could bust through this Rita lady’s walls and make her give me that pic and the contract.” He shrugged. “Though I’d never hurt anyone, of course. But busting through her walls would be fun!”
Stryker nodded. “Like the Kool-Aid Man!”
Athena laughed. “Unfortunately, I don’t think this situation calls for brawn. It wouldn’t help.”
“Nothing would help,” Riley said. “I’m trapped.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Harrison said.
When Briggs looked at him, he saw the famous actor wore a devilish grin.
“Stryker and I have been talking…”
“Oh boy,” Athena said. “When you two get to planning, heaven help us all!”
“Our reputation precedes us,” Stryker said with an ornery smile.
“It most certainly does!” Athena replied. “Might I remind you of the rocket incident just the other day?”
The guys laughed.
“Okay, but hear us out,” Harrison said. “The contract says Riley cannot terminate it. But it gives Rita an out. She can cut you loose if the business relationship is no longer satisfactory.”
“In other words, if the parts dry up and I’m not making any money,” Riley said. “But that hurts me too. I want to act! This is my dream. And one day, I want to produce and direct.’
“I respect that,” Stryker said. “And you can do it. But we’re not saying you stop working.”
Briggs was curious where the guys were going with this. He moved closer to the couch, standing near Riley, as they all waited.
Harrison was grinning even more as he explained, “What Stryker and I are suggesting is simple. You act so awful. Your deeds so heinous, that Rita wants to drop you.”
“Yep,” Stryker said. “She wants a brat, you give her a brat. The brattiest brat she’s ever dealt with.”
“She could still release the pic out of spite,” Trevon pointed out.
“Sure. But it wouldn’t do her much good,” Riley said, standing.
Briggs was happy to see she was smiling now, a light flickering in her eyes that hadn’t been there since they’d started this meeting.
“Because,” she continued, “I’m going to out myself. I have a plan. Once I carry it out, Operation Brat begins!”
The Littles in the room cheered.
Athena, Trevon, and Briggs just exchanged concerned glances.
Oh boy, Briggs thought.
What in the world was going to happen?